Psalm 55:12

Translations

Modern

For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.

Traditional

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

Literal

For it is not an enemy who scorns me, or I could bear it; and not one hating me who wielded power against me, or I could hide myself from him.

Latin

Quoniam si inimicus meus maledixisset mihi, sustinuissem utique. Et si is qui oderat me super me magna locutus fuisset, abscondissem me forsitan ab eo.

Original

Hebrew

English

For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.

Notes

Psalms 55:12–20

The psalmist's enemy used to be a friend. Remembering their close relationship causes him pain (see Psalm 31:11).

Psalms 55:1–23

The psalmist faces enemies led by a former friend (Psalm 55:12–14). This causes him great distress. He prays to the Lord and trusts him for justice (Psalm 55:22–23).

Jesus went through similar pain when Judas, his friend, betrayed him. He also experienced the psalmist’s prayer being answered:

by taking the place of the wicked and receiving their punishment (Isaiah 53:7–9), and
by trusting the Father, who saved (Luke 23:46) and rewarded him (Isaiah 53:10–12).

Psalms 51:1–65:13

These psalms of David share a common theme. They reflect on the experience of evil. In Psalm 51, the psalmist admits his wrongdoing and asks for God's forgiveness. Psalms 52–64 express sorrow over specific evils David faced. A song of praise (Psalm 65) brings David's laments to an end.

Theme notes and profiles

David

Related verses

Psalm 41:9
Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
John 13:18
I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’
Matthew 26:21–23
And while they were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”
Psalm 35:26
May those who gloat in my distress be ashamed and confounded; may those who exalt themselves over me be clothed in shame and reproach.
John 18:2–3
Now Judas His betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.
Isaiah 10:15
Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it? Does a saw boast over him who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting him who is not wood!
Psalm 38:16
For I said, “Let them not gloat over me—those who taunt me when my foot slips.”

Psalm 55:12

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